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Throckmorton Airfield

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the risk assessment made prior to the establishment of a mass burial site at Throckmorton airfield in Worcestershire; and what amendments have since been made to that assessment. [2002]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 4 July 2001]: The Environment Agency conducted a preliminary desktop study of Throckmorton airfield in order to assess its suitability as a burial site for animal carcases. The study included a risk assessment of the geological, hydrogeological and hydrological conditions at the airfield. This assessment was followed up by a full quantitative risk assessment by the agency using site-specific data gained from the site construction phase. The site was shown to be acceptable using the approved methodology.

The contractors, Halcrows, are currently doing additional site investigation and monitoring, and they will further update the risk assessment following this work. Both the qualitative desktop study and quantitative risk assessment are held on the public register at the district Environment Agency office in Riversmeet, Tewkesbury, together with a note referring to the additional work.

Hall Burn

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what is the purpose of the building being erected at the Hall Burn site at Longtown, Cumbria. [2754]

Mr. Morley: No permanent buildings are being erected at the Hall Burn site although a number of temporary modular buildings (i.e. portacabins) were erected on the site before May. These are used for office accommodation, crew rooms, toilets, and showers.

Green Ministers

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to monitor (a) the role of Green Ministers and (b) integration of the environment and sustainable development; and if she will make a statement. [4003]

Mr. Meacher: As chair of the Cabinet Sub-Committee of Green Ministers, I will monitor the role of Green Ministers and integration of the environment and sustainable development. The Committee will report to ENV as necessary. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is a member of ENV.

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs where responsibility lies for co-ordination of the role of Green Ministers; and if she will make a statement. [4002]

Mr. Meacher: As a Cabinet Sub-Committee the terms of reference for ENV(G) are set by the Prime Minister and it is for me to co-ordinate the role including a work programme.

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Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date a Green Minister was first appointed in her Department; when subsequent appointments were made; and if she will make a statement. [3974]

Mr. Meacher: I have been asked to answer this question on behalf of the Government. The Green Ministers Committee has undergone three phases since its inception. A Green Minister in every Government Department was first appointed following the 'This Common Inheritance' White Paper in 1990.

Following the recent establishment of the Green Ministers Committee as a Cabinet Sub-Committee, ENV(G), its membership is as follows:



Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set out the terms of reference for the role of the Green Minister in (a) her own Department and (b) in other Departments; and if she will make a statement. [3985]

Mr. Meacher: In this Parliament the Green Ministers Committee has been reconstituted as the Cabinet Sub- Committee of Green Ministers, ENV(G). It is for the Prime Minister to set the terms of reference for Cabinet Committees. ENV(G)'s terms of reference are:


WORK AND PENSIONS

Invalid Care Allowance

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer, net

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of savings on means-tested benefits, of increasing the rate of Invalid Care Allowance to the level of the basic State Pension. [1460]

Maria Eagle: The estimated additional cost of this change would be £650 million in 2001–02 (cost net of savings on Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit would be £340 million). However, this change would only benefit carers not in receipt of Income Support (IS) or where the increase is greater than the current value of their IS. 230,000 people would see an increase in their net income.

In April 2001 the Carer Premium paid through Income Related Benefits was increased by an extra £10 per week and the Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) Earnings Limit was increased by £22 per week. We intend to legislate to extend ICA to people aged 65 or over and to enable ICA to continue for up to eight weeks after the death of the person being cared for. These changes will help an estimated 300,000 carers at a cost of more than £500 million over three years.







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Winter Fuel Payment

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the last Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2000 was paid. [2265]

Mr. McCartney: This is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. David Willetts, dated 11 July 2001:




BASIS

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff the Benefits Agency Security Investigations Service has employed in each area for each of the past 12 months; what is the full complement of staff at each BASIS office; how many of these posts are vacant; and how many staff at each area office have been with BASIS for 12 months or more. [2260]

Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the tables.

The Counter Fraud Investigation Branch is committed to bringing staffing up to full strength in the next quarter and is currently recruiting.

BASIS staff employed in each area for the past 12 months

2000 2001
TeamsMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMay
Hinchley Wood60605858585555535253535356
Canons Park44454647474948485050504645
Birmingham19212019202019192219202020
Nottingham17171717171717171818181818
Leeds19191918182020212121212122
Manchester18181817211919202020202121
Cardiff15151615151516171718171515
Liverpool17171818181819192020202020
Newcastle17171719191919191921212221
Glasgow21211818182119191919191818
Total247250247246251253251252258259259254256

Complement of BASIS staff at each office and vacant posts

BASIS teamsComplement of staffVacancies declared
Hinchley Wood6913
Canons Park6924
Birmingham211
Nottingham213
Leeds210
Manchester210
Cardiff216
Liverpool211
Newcastle210
Glasgow213


Number of staff employed within BASIS for 12 months or more

BASIS teamsNumber of staff
Hinchley Wood42
Canons Park34
Birmingham14
Nottingham18
Leeds18
Manchester14
Cardiff12
Liverpool14
Newcastle12
Glasgow14

Notes:

1. These figures include both administrative and investigative staff employed by BASIS.

2. Figures above as of May 2001.


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